Automatic fire-extinguisher.



Patented Nov. 4, |902.

A. D. L|NN.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

(Application led Ian. 3, 1902.)

(N0 Model.)

Inventor.

W tnesSeS- a y .n .e i @fm Z1.,. ,WA U4 @A4/M m7@ A ltleirTnn STaTns ALLEN D. LINN, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF 'I`\VO-TI-IIRDS TO GAIUS W. PERKINS AND VILLIAM T. I'IESS, OF GRAND RAPIDS,

MICHIGAN.

PATENT @erica AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

SPECEFIGATIN forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,692, dated November 4, 1902.

Application filed January 3, 1902. Serial No. 88,344.. (No model.)

To all whom, it .may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALLEN D. LINN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fire-Extinguishers, of which the following is a speci-1 fication.

My inventionrelates to improvements in automatic fire extinguishingr or sprinkling systems; and its objects are, first, to avert the danger of the system becoming water-'columned or, in other words, of the pressure of water above the valve pressing the valve down so solidly as to overcome the pressure of water from below the valve, and thus render the system inoperative, a common difficulty in systems of this kind; second, to provide for sounding an alarm when the system -is opened and water tlows through, and,

third, to provide for automatically cutting in an auxiliary supply of water and at the same time, if desired, shutting oi the supply from the city mains. mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical section of the system' in the line c a: of Fig. 2. Fi". 2 is an elevation of the same with the auxiliary pump removed, and Fig. 3 is an elevation of the cylinder removed from the system.

Similar letters refer to similarparts throughout the several views.

A represents the cylinder.

B is the cylinder-head. v

C is the base, and C' is the water channel or pipe through which water flows to the sys-l tem, the upper end of which forms the seatfor the valve D. This valve forms one of the principal features of my invention. In

many of the systems now in use the valve is madc'very heavy, and, as the upper surface is.

purposely made several times the areavof the water surface below, so that a comparativelyV low pressure of air will hold it against a high pressure of water, it is found that `in' high buildings, where it is necessary to use a long pipe, and consequently a high column of water above the valve, it willvseat the valve so solidly as to wholly shut o the flow of water,

I attain these objects by theV l and thus render the system inoperative. 'Io avert this danger, I provide a valve that will oat in water, preferably with a thick packing of cork, as indicated in Fig. 1, and pivot always be held contiguous to the valve-seat. I find that by this vconstruction while a low pressure of air above will securely seat thc valve against a strong pressure of water low the moment water is allowed to pass into the cylinder sufficiently to act upon the valve it will rise even against the air-pressure and before the cylinder is anywhere near filled with water and will not reseat no matter how heavy a column of water isabove it. To avert the danger ofthe accumulation of water in the cylin-der, either by condensation or otherwise, sufficiently to unseat the valve, I make use of an automatic drip M, which is connected to the main cylinder by means of the pipe and valve O. This drip is provided with a valve N, that will float in water when sufcient has entered the chamberordrip, but will be held in place by air-pressure when no water surrounds it and with a petcock P. It will be noticed that this valve is far enough below the valve D to insure its unseating before sufficient water can be deposited in the chamber A to unseat the valve D. I also provide an automat-icdrip Q,constructed similar to the drip M, for draining any Water that may drip or be forced into the base C, and L represents a general drain for drawing the entire column of water from the system preparatory to seating the valve after the pressure of water has been shut oli? from below. Vhen the valve D is thrown open, its metallic backv comes in contact with the circuitbreakers E of the battery E or any other source of electricity and sounds an alarm at the bell E2, which may be located at any convenient place upon the premises or elsewhere.

I-I represents an electric motor, and H represents a centrifugal pun1p,by means of which water may be forced through the pipe F2 into the system, in which F represents an angled branch. connection, F represents the conductor-pipe through which water is forced through the system from the city mains, and G represents a gate or straightway valve for itwithin the cylinder, as at d, so that it will A shutting off the water from flowing through the pipe F. I provide for automatically energizing the motor H by means of the switch D2, actuated by the arm D', which arm is securcd to the pivoting shaft or rod CZ, that supports the valve, and which is actuated by the opening and closing of the valve D.

The use of an auxiliary supply of water is particularly desirable in cases where the city tire-engines are drawing so heavily upon the city mains as to practically absorb the pressure and prevent the How of water through the pipe F. In such cases it is very desirable to shut off this supply entirely, and I have provided for this by the use of a helical coil I and amagnetic core I', acting upon the valverod g through the medium of the bell-crank G,\vhich may be accomplished by the reverse action of the lever J, connected to the crank by the rod j, as illustrated in Fig. l, or it may be connected directly, as illustrated in Fig. 2. I do not, of course, desire to restrict myself to this means of actuating the valve G, as many other well-known mechanical devices eXist that would be equally available for the purpose, but show it as one ofthe many available means and as, perhaps, the most convenient of illustration. Nor do I desire torestrict myself absolutelyv to the use of electricity as an auxiliary power, as compressed air or other forms of motive power may be applied; but I deenrelectricity far the most available in the present development of motive powers and certainly so, as the cu rrent fordriving the electric motor may be obtained from public or private electric plants far removed from the motor. I have shown the battery K not as a desirable source of electric supply, but simply to assist in tracing the electric circuit to and through the several elements of my invention. l

In Fig. 3 I have shown a door a, that is designed to open for the purpose of regulating or repairing the valve D, and to facilitate handling it I have provided to hinge it to the cylinder, as at a', so that it may be easily swung open or shut, and the interior of the cylinder may be easily reached without the necessity of lifting and handling a heavy door independent of the hinges.

Erepresents an insulated plug for the passage of the electric wires that connect the signal system through the walls of the cylinder A to position to complete the electric circuit through the contact of the valve D, as hereinbefore set forth.

The space above the valve D in the cylinder A is designed as an air-chamber and is madedarge, rst, to allow of a large surface of valve to be acted upon by pressure of air in the chamber and in the pipe above to prevent the pressure of water from below from unseating the valve while the pressure of air is upon it, and, second, to provide ample room for the free action of the valve.

Having thus fullydescribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In an automatic tire-extinguisher, a water-supply pipe, an air-chamber connected in said pipe, a oatable valve within said chamber, and an electric circuit in position to be opened and closed by the action of said valve, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an automatic fire-extinguishing s vstem, a water-supply pipe, an air-chamber set in said pipe, a floatable valve within said chamber in position to form a water-tight joint and hinged to open to one side of the chamber, the pivot-rod of said valve extending out through the wall of the chamber, an `arm upon said rod, an electric switch in position to engage said arm when the valve swings open, an electric motor, and apump connected therewith as an auxiliary water-supply, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an automatic fire-extinguishing system, a main water-supply pipe, an air-chamber set therein, a floatable valve hinged therein to form a water-tight joint between the supply-pipe and the chamber and to open to one side of the chamber, an electric switch in position to complete an electric circuit by metallic contact with said valve, an electric motor, a pump connected therewith and with the su pply-pipe as an auxiliary water-supply, a valve in the main water-supply pipe, levers and connecting-rods actuated electrically to open and close said valves, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4t. In an automatic tire-extinguishing system, a main water-supply pipe, an air-chamber connected in said pipe, a oatable Valve hinged in said chamber in position to form a water-tight joint with the water-pipe, and to open up to one side of the chamber, an electric circuit in position to be opened and closed thereby, an electric motor connected in said circuit, a valve in the water-pipe, an auxiliary water-supply pipe, a pump connected therewith and with the motor, the valve in the supply-pipe connected to be opened and closed by the action of the motor, and automatic dripping-cups connected with the air-chamber, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Signed at Grand Rapids, Michigan, December 28, 1901.

ALLEN D. LINN.

In presence of- F. D. DIBBLE, ITHIEL J. CILLEY.

ICO

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